Tanning apparatus.



Np. 732,562. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903. 1

c. P; KBRANs. TANNING APPARATUS.-

APPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE 6, 1901.

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|IINHNYEHiIIIiIIiiliilillllIlllllIllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllIIIlllillIlfllllllllllllllllllUNITED S ATES Patented June 30, 1903.

ATENT @rrrcn.

TANNING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,562, dated June30,1903. Application filed June 6, 1901. Serial No. 63,343. l lo model.)

This invention has for its object the production of novel means forsuspending and moving hides, sides, and skins while in a vat in thepresence of liquor-used in liming, washing, drenching, and coloring thehides or skins.

Ordinarily in liming and kindred steps in the method of tanning it iscustomary to deposit the hides, sides, or skins in the liquor in vat oneagainst the other, and the hides or skins are handled or turned ordisturbed from time to time to insure more uniform action or treatmentof the hides or skins. I have ascertained by practice to insure theuniform action on the hide or skin of the liquorin which it is immersed,of whatever form, that the hides or skins should be so suspended in theliquor that they will not touch and thereby prevent the full action ofthe liquor on the hides or skins, also that the liquor may be kept in astate of agitation, that it may work most evenly and effectually bysimply moving the hides or skins in the liquor, and that to prevent therubbing of the sides'of the hides or skins when being moved in theliquor they mustbe moved edgewise and not widthwise in the liquor. Toeffect these desirable steps, I have provided a frame on which the hidesor skins are suspended and have provided means whereby this frame may berocked in the vat containing the liquor to be used, said vat and framehaving one, suitable boxes, and the other suitable journals, whereby thelower end of the frame set in the vat may be retained in positiontherein detachably, and by reciprocating the upper end of the frame itmay be rocked in the vat and carry the hides edgewise back and forththrough the liquor, the hides at the same time being raised and loweredin the liquor. The frame is free to be lifted from the liquor at anydesired time.

Figure l is-a longitudinal section of a vat containing a rocking frameconstructed in accordance with my invention, a hide being shown bydotted lines. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the vat, Fig. 1, showingseveral hides suspended. I

The vat Aof any usual shape, material, or size has, as shown, in itsbottom a suitable bearing a, represented as notches formed in beams of.

The rocking frame B is shown (see Fig. 1) as of V shape, orsubstantially so, it being composed of side bars I) b, cross-bars l) b,united to form the top of the frame, and depending ends b united, asshown, with a bottom beam 12 having extended from it preferably suitablejournals 0, making the complemental part of the bearing or fulcrum forthe frame B to sustain the frame in the liquor in the vat while theframe is being rocked to move the hides or skins d suspended fromsuitable bars e, resting on cleats f, secured to the bars I) of the topof the frame, said hides so suspended being moved edgewise through theliquor in the vat as the frame is rocked and also being raised andlowered in said liquor. I intend to mount on the crossba-rs b of the topof the frame a bar g, providedwith a suitable yoke or eye It, and'toconnect with said bar or its yoke a suitable link 'm, connected with asuitable crank (not shown) actuated by power, so that said frame may berocked mechanically, thus reciprocating the hides through the liquor andkeeping the latter in agitation. Should it be desired to remove theframe, with its attached hides, from the vat or to put a frame providedwith hides in the vat, it is only necessary to disconnect the link mfrom the bar g and engage suitable hooks n, (see Fig. 1,) carried byropes o, with suitable eyes 10 of the frame and then wind up the ropes,they being connected with a suitable shaft or Windlass mounted,preferably, on a traveling crane or car running on tracks over a seriesof vats. The.car,"with the frame and its attached hides, may be run intoposition above any other tank and the frame be lowered in the desiredtank.

I intend in practice to employ a series of frames in one or a series ofvats in line and to actuate a plurality of said frames from one and thesame shaft through suitable arms connected in suitable manner with thesaid frame.

The frame, as shown, is provided with a plurality of agitators K K solocated as to cause the heavier ingredients in the liquor to be thrownupwardly toward the surface of the liquor, and I prefer to arrange saidagitators one above the other to thus aid in lifting in the liquor theheavier matter thereof.

Having described my invention, what I- part of the vat, and means forrocking the frame on said journals.

2. In an apparatus for treating hides or skins, the combination of asuitable vat, a frame having depending and converging end bars united attheir lower ends, agitators connecting the end bars at each end of theframe, said agitators having their acting surfaces inclined to throwmaterial upward, a beam secured to the lower ends of the end bars, andhaving journals, bearings for said journals in the lower part of thevat, and means detachably connected to the frame for rocking the frameendwise upon its journals.

3. In an apparatus for treating hides or skins, the combination of asuitable vat, a frame having depending and converging end bars united attheir lower ends, an agitator connecting the depending end bars at eachend of the frame, said agitators having their acting surfaces inclinedto throw material upward, a beam secured to the lower ends of the endbars, the said frame being provided with cleats to removably supporthide or skin carrying bars, and means detachably connected to the framefor rocking the frame endwise upon its journals.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES P. KERANS.

\Vi tnesses:

Guo. W. GREGORY, EDITH M. STODDARD.

